new to cross bow hunting

[lil_hunter12]

this year in kentucky they r starting a cross bow season i want to get a crossbow so i can hunt it. as i havent got much money to spend on 1 i had thought about the horton steelforce but ive saw many bad reviews on it.so im thinkin about the barnett RC-150 is this a descent crossbow to begin with?even if it is better for more experienced hunters is it a descent cross bow? thanks for any help u can give me

[slayer]

I would reccomend the Excalibur Vixen. 150 pounds and just awsome crossbows. I have the Exocet, they are 200 pounds, but over $100 more than the Vixen. You can get the Vixen with just the open sights for $285 on Ebay from Bowhunterssuperstore. Great buy from them. I bought my Exocet and accessories form them also!! Good luck-Jack.

[lil_hunter12]

i cant afford any more than the 230 or 250 that the barnett costs. so i was hoping some1 could give me some info on them

[jh45gun]

If you got to save your money until you can afford the Vixon do it or buy the Horton compound kit they sell for 300 bucks which comes with a red dot and bolts. . Both are better than the Entry level Barnett's.  I have a entry level Barnett Ranger and thought it was ok until I shot a Excaliber. My Ranger is a recurve the ones your talking about are compounds or may be a recurve as the RC 150 comes both ways. Either way the triggers are not the best nor is the accuracy. I know! Even though I did shoot two deer with the Ranger is is not really that good of a hunting bow.  I have shot the Horton's and they are good xbows for the money and the Excalibers are excellent a Vixen is a great xbow that will last you a long time. My Barnett  Ranger is taken down and hanging in the closet where it will stay. Save your self some grief and money and buy a better xbow than the entry level Barnetts and that is what they are the models you are taking about. 

[Digger]

i cant afford any more than the 230 or 250 that the barnett costs. so i was hoping some1 could give me some info on them

A word of caution, you get what you pay for. I had a Barnett before I got an Excalibur and it was like night and day between them, if I hadn't found the Excal Wolverine in '92 I'd still be shooting trad and recurves. I would find anothe fifty or hundred bucks somewhere and get a decent Horton or Excal Vixen or Wolverine.

[lil_hunter12]

walmart has a horton for 250 i dont remember wat its called

[jh45gun]

As long as it is one of their compounds tbat is a good price. Is that just the crossbow or a crossbow package? I know some places sell the crossbow package for 300 bucks and that comes with a red dot and bolts ect.  If you can get the same deal from wallyworld for 250 that is a good price! Just think then you would need broadheads. I shot one of the 300 dollar Horton xbow package bows at a sportshop and it was not that bad of a xbow a lot better xbow then the entry level Barnetts are. I used to thinl the Barnetts were ok until I shot my Excaliber. Never shot a higher priced Barnett so I cannot comment on them. If you decide that you really like the xbow hunting I still would keep an eye out later for a good used Excaliber or a new Excaliber Vixen. Jim

[ihuntbucks]

I use a Barnett Rhino Mag.Have never had any trouble out of it and I can stay in a 6" circle at 35 yrds. shot after shot.Can comment on the ones the fellows are using cuz this is my first and only xbow.But Iam well pleased with it...........Rick

[Digger]

I use a Barnett Rhino Mag.Have never had any trouble out of it and I can stay in a 6" circle at 35 yrds. shot after shot.Can comment on the ones the fellows are using cuz this is my first and only xbow.But Iam well pleased with it...........Rick

I'm not saying all Barnetts are so much scrap,but I had an entry level recurve that had a trigger thad about a 15 lb pull that would jam on you at times or at best would cause it to pull your shot.  The trigger finally fell apart. My brothers Barnett had 3 limbs that cracked on him as well as trigger problems, these models and their chinese clones give Bartnett a bad name in cheap xbows. But Barnett has some good bows in their top line up.

[jh45gun]

I agree with digger the Barnett  cheaper priced crossbows leave a lot to be desired. I would bet the more expensive ones are fine, they would have to be to stay competitive. Like I said while I killed two deer with my Ranger it really does not stack up to a hunting bow after I shot my Excaliber and a couple of Hortons and a Ten Point. You have to have a xbow with a decent trigger to be able to shoot good and those cheap Barnetts or the made in China clones do not have it.

[sk330lc]

  Save your money and go with the Excaliper!   You'll only ever have to buy one crossbow if you do .. They stand behind their bow very well with their Life time warranty . Most of their strings  are made in the Ohio valley and the trigger groups are made by TC so I was told by one of thier reps.  I love my Exocett 200 !! you can't go wrong!!